Osama bin Laden, family man

Andrew Neatty of AFP previews a book to be published at the end of the month, written by his first wife and her son, revealing something of the personal side of the man. This is one angry, mean, cruel man. Not just to infidels. Some highlights:

Soon after, bin Laden began to travel to Pakistan and Afghanistan to fight against the Soviet occupation, returning to tell his sons tales of battles in Afghan caves and mountains under Soviet fire.

He eventually returned to Saudi Arabia a hero, but at home was increasingly disciplinarian, punishing his children -- who eventually numbered more than a dozen -- for transgressions such as "showing too many teeth" while laughing.

Meanwhile, Najwa was kept in seclusion with Osama's new wives, one of whom she picked, in a spartan home without the mod-cons that make life in the stifling desert lands of Saudi Arabia and Sudan more comfortable.

"My father would not allow my mother to turn on the air conditioning that the contractor had built into the apartment building," Omar relayed.

"Neither would he allow her to use the refrigerator that was standing in the kitchen."

Despite this aversion to modern appliances, bin Laden indulged in his penchant for fast cars, including at least one gold-colored Mercedes. He once even bought a speed boat.

"Nothing gave him more satisfaction than having a full day to take a speedy drive to the desert, where he would leave his automobile while he took long walks," said Najwa.

None of this is exactly surprising. But keep in mind this man is highly regarded among millions of Muslims around the world. I wonder how far he is outside the norms of Saudi life?

I spent decades of my life around feminist intellectuals in Cambridge and Berkeley, women (and a few men) who loved to describe the patriarchy they saw all around them, that turned affluent, educated women into victims. By patriarchy, they meant the United States.

Osama bin Laden demonstrates what a real patriarchy is like. Funny that not many feminists are ardent supporters of the war on terror. For some reason, they prefer to avert their eyes.

Hat tip: Carol Brown

Andrew Neatty of AFP previews a book to be published at the end of the month, written by his first wife and her son, revealing something of the personal side of the man. This is one angry, mean, cruel man. Not just to infidels. Some highlights:

Soon after, bin Laden began to travel to Pakistan and Afghanistan to fight against the Soviet occupation, returning to tell his sons tales of battles in Afghan caves and mountains under Soviet fire.

He eventually returned to Saudi Arabia a hero, but at home was increasingly disciplinarian, punishing his children -- who eventually numbered more than a dozen -- for transgressions such as "showing too many teeth" while laughing.

Meanwhile, Najwa was kept in seclusion with Osama's new wives, one of whom she picked, in a spartan home without the mod-cons that make life in the stifling desert lands of Saudi Arabia and Sudan more comfortable.

"My father would not allow my mother to turn on the air conditioning that the contractor had built into the apartment building," Omar relayed.

"Neither would he allow her to use the refrigerator that was standing in the kitchen."

Despite this aversion to modern appliances, bin Laden indulged in his penchant for fast cars, including at least one gold-colored Mercedes. He once even bought a speed boat.

"Nothing gave him more satisfaction than having a full day to take a speedy drive to the desert, where he would leave his automobile while he took long walks," said Najwa.

None of this is exactly surprising. But keep in mind this man is highly regarded among millions of Muslims around the world. I wonder how far he is outside the norms of Saudi life?

I spent decades of my life around feminist intellectuals in Cambridge and Berkeley, women (and a few men) who loved to describe the patriarchy they saw all around them, that turned affluent, educated women into victims. By patriarchy, they meant the United States.

Osama bin Laden demonstrates what a real patriarchy is like. Funny that not many feminists are ardent supporters of the war on terror. For some reason, they prefer to avert their eyes.